Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: EU Lisbon Treaty - Well Done Ireland!

  1. #1
    Registered User Keefy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Over Hill and Dale
    Posts
    426
    Rep Power
    9

    EU Lisbon Treaty - Well Done Ireland!

    Well it's looking like we all owe the 3m people of Ireland a big thank you. They are the only ordinary people who have been allowed to actually have a say in what they think of the wretched treaty, a say denied to the rest of Europe.

    What happens next is going to be interesting! The EU ministers can either tear up the rule book and ignore Ireland, ask them to keep voting until they give the 'right' answer, or actually modify things to something that people want.

    Unfortunately the latter course of action is highly unlikely, the only thing that the EU learnt after the resounding rejection of the EU Constitution is that it's a very bad idea to actually practise democracy and ask peoples opinions.

    So well done Ireland, you've given the EU the answer to the question that they dare not ask all of the other people of Europe.

  2. #2
    Commercial Operator
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Nottingham
    Posts
    259
    Rep Power
    10

    Re: EU Lisbon Treaty - Well Done Ireland!

    So well done Ireland, you've given the EU the answer to the question that they dare not ask all of the other people of Europe.

  3. #3
    Lovely Moderator ducasi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Glasgow
    Posts
    10,015
    Rep Power
    14

    Re: EU Lisbon Treaty - Well Done Ireland!

    What's so bad about this treaty anyway? From what I've seen, it's all about creating a fairer, more balanced Europe.

    How many people who do not support this treaty want the UK to withdraw from the EU?
    Let your mind go and your body will follow. – Steve Martin, LA Story

  4. #4
    Formerly known as DavidJames David Bailey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Norf Lundin
    Posts
    17,001
    Blog Entries
    1
    Rep Power
    18

    Re: EU Lisbon Treaty - Well Done Ireland!

    Quote Originally Posted by ducasi View Post
    What's so bad about this treaty anyway? From what I've seen, it's all about creating a fairer, more balanced Europe.
    Actually, I think the treaty's OK. Similarly for the previous incarnation of the constitution.

    What I - and I suspect a lot of others - resent is the way that it's been foisted on us without us actually having a chance to debate on it, or even understand it. It's typical Eurocratic "We know what's best for you, you little plebs" attitude, which gets right up my nose.

    And seeing our own government try to claim "It's not the same as the constitution, therefore you don't need a vote" - well, it's hypocritical. All they're saying is "We may lose, so we won't let you vote".

    It's clearly an important constitutional change - and one which all parties have promised to have a referendum on, no matter whether it's called a treaty or a constitution. I want politicians to keep their promises. I know, it's a vain hope, but still, this sort of blatant hypocrisy is annoying.

    Quote Originally Posted by ducasi View Post
    How many people who do not support this treaty want the UK to withdraw from the EU?
    I support the treaty - sort of.

    But even if I didn't, I'd not want to withdraw from Europe. It's perfectly possible to oppose one piece of legislation whilst supporting the institution.

  5. #5
    Lovely Moderator ducasi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Glasgow
    Posts
    10,015
    Rep Power
    14

    Re: EU Lisbon Treaty - Well Done Ireland!

    Have people's cynicism of politicians reached the stage that any vote becomes a protest vote?
    Let your mind go and your body will follow. – Steve Martin, LA Story

  6. #6
    Formerly known as DavidJames David Bailey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Norf Lundin
    Posts
    17,001
    Blog Entries
    1
    Rep Power
    18

    Re: EU Lisbon Treaty - Well Done Ireland!

    Quote Originally Posted by ducasi View Post
    Have people's cynicism of politicians reached the stage that any vote becomes a protest vote?
    My cynicism has actually come full-circle; I'm starting to think (some) politicians have principles again...

    But I agree that a referendum has dangers of being about the government rather than the issue.

  7. #7
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    St Neots, Cambs
    Posts
    699
    Rep Power
    9

    Re: EU Lisbon Treaty - Well Done Ireland!

    Quote Originally Posted by ducasi View Post
    Have people's cynicism of politicians reached the stage that any vote becomes a protest vote?
    On the case of the European Parliament which is regularly reported as being fundamentally corrupt I think a healthy cynicism is to be encouraged.

  8. #8
    Lovely Moderator ducasi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Glasgow
    Posts
    10,015
    Rep Power
    14

    Re: EU Lisbon Treaty - Well Done Ireland!

    Quote Originally Posted by Agente Secreto View Post
    On the case of the European Parliament which is regularly reported as being fundamentally corrupt I think a healthy cynicism is to be encouraged.
    Worth asking – reported by whom?

    Taking the scale of the institution into account, do you think it's any more corrupt than the British Parliament? Or your local council?
    Let your mind go and your body will follow. – Steve Martin, LA Story

  9. #9
    Formerly known as DavidJames David Bailey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Norf Lundin
    Posts
    17,001
    Blog Entries
    1
    Rep Power
    18

    Re: EU Lisbon Treaty - Well Done Ireland!

    Quote Originally Posted by ducasi View Post
    Worth asking – reported by whom?
    Well, the BBC for a start:
    BBC NEWS | Programmes | Newsnight | EU corruption claims investigated

    And the fact that the EU's auditors have failed to approve the EU budget for 13 years seems a bit of an indicator of dodginess.

    Quote Originally Posted by ducasi View Post
    Taking the scale of the institution into account, do you think it's any more corrupt than the British Parliament? Or your local council?
    That's difficult to say - looking at the CPI, the UK'd doing pretty well - 11th equal in 2006 - but that only measures corruption on a national level.

    I'm not aware of any stats measuring corruption within the EU beurocracy itself. But there's plenty of anecdotal evidence of corruption.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Do they MJ in Ireland?
    By KatieR in forum Let's talk about dance
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 21st-October-2005, 02:52 PM
  2. Movies set in N. Ireland
    By Jazz_Shoes (Ash) in forum Chit Chat
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 21st-September-2005, 02:07 PM

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •